Trump pressed Comey to pledge his loyalty: report

[corbe]

Trump pressed Comey to pledge his loyalty: report

 By Max Greenwood  - 05/11/17 09:05 PM EDT

President Trump demanded in January that then-FBI Director James Comey pledge his loyalty to the newly-inaugurated president, but Comey refused, The New York Times reported Thursday.

Instead, the top cop said he would always be honest with Trump, and that he was not politically "reliable," associates of Comey told The Times.

Later in the dinner, according to the account, Trump once again asked for Comey to pledge his loyalty. Once again, Comey refused.

Comey also tried to explain to the president how he viewed his post at the FBI, saying that the bureau's director should be a non-partisan, independent enforcer of the nation's laws. FBI directors are appointed to 10 years terms to ensure freedom from political impulses.

<..snip..>

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/333062-report-trump-demanded-comeys-loyalty-at-dinner-in-january

[geronl]

Insane.

He should pledge loyalty to the nation, the Constitution and the duties of the office, not to a man.

[DB]

Comey proved himself totally corrupt of our laws with Hillary. Either the laws apply to everyone or no one. You can't pick and choose like he did.

[kevindavis007]

Comey proved himself totally corrupt of our laws with Hillary. Either the laws apply to everyone or no one. You can't pick and choose like he did.

You do realize that the job to prosecute is not the job of the FBI. He should have been fired when Trump first got in. But the reality is this, when it comes to law enforcement, I want the FBI to be non-partisan.  Not too much power like J Edgar, but independent of whoever is President.

[corbe]

   As far as I'm concerned they're both Liars so it's a wash here as to who to believe.

[Emjay]

Insane.

He should pledge loyalty to the nation, the Constitution and the duties of the office, not to a man.

Nor to a woman, either.

He was pretty dang loyal to Hillary.

[cato potatoe]

This is disturbing, yet entirely consistent with the way Trump ran his business and his campaign.  He never intended to play the role of president as described in Article II.

[XenaLee]

Insane.

He should pledge loyalty to the nation, the Constitution and the duties of the office, not to a man.

Of course.   But unfortunately, as time goes on.... that seems to be becoming less and less possible or the case in this political climate.  It will only get worse (more partisan) from here.  The left will wage war on anyone that isn't in lock-step with leftism.  We need to recognize that fact and act accordingly.

[DB]

You do realize that the job to prosecute is not the job of the FBI. He should have been fired when Trump first got in. But the reality is this, when it comes to law enforcement, I want the FBI to be non-partisan.  Not too much power like J Edgar, but independent of whoever is President.

Yes I do. But he cut the process off by publicly saying her actions didn't rise to the level of criminality required to prosecute which we all know is false. There are many people who did far less and are sitting in prison right now.

[Formerly Once-Ler]

A President demanding loyalty from the Director of the FBI is not a concern for Republicans or Alex Jones. 

I can't keep up with this stuff any more...maybe there is a comedy show on Netfix I haven't seen.

[Cripplecreek]

You do realize that the job to prosecute is not the job of the FBI. He should have been fired when Trump first got in. But the reality is this, when it comes to law enforcement, I want the FBI to be non-partisan.  Not too much power like J Edgar, but independent of whoever is President.

If it were up to me the president would be stripped of the power to appoint the attorney general as well. They aren't supposed to be the president's personal prosecutor or defense attorney.

[beandog]

Anyone who believes anything coming from the New York Times is an idiot.  The end.

[Cripplecreek]

Of course.   But unfortunately, as time goes on.... that seems to be becoming less and less possible or the case in this political climate.  It will only get worse (more partisan) from here.  The left will wage war on anyone that isn't in lock-step with leftism.  We need to recognize that fact and act accordingly.

I would say that Trump is the one behaving as a hyperpartisan but that's not true. Trump goes even further and behaves more like a megalomaniac dictator by the day and its the fault of himself and the idiots who enable him (you know, the people who lied and said they would hold his feet to the fire.)

The democrats can behave any way they wish but acting accordingly should never mean acting worse which is exactly what Trump and his minions are openly doing now.

[XenaLee]

I would say that Trump is the one behaving as a hyperpartisan but that's not true. Trump goes even further and behaves more like a megalomaniac dictator by the day and its the fault of himself and the idiots who enable him (you know, the people who lied and said they would hold his feet to the fire.)

The democrats can behave any way they wish but acting accordingly should never mean acting worse which is exactly what Trump and his minions are openly doing now.

Please, please don't force me to defend Trump (yech) here.  But for you to equate anything Trump or the GOP (as much as I am pissed with them right about now) is doing with what the foaming-at-the-mouth leftists are pulling daily is absurd.

[kevindavis007]

I wonder what the reaction be if Hillary had done this

[Cripplecreek]

I wonder what the reaction be if Hillary had done this

Not everyone has the courage to answer that question honestly.

I don't care whether people like it or not but there are things that Trump is doing that are worse than what the democrats have done.... so far. The next democrat president's bad behavior will be justified by claims that "Trump did it" and the ones justifying it now will be the ones screaming the loudest.

[kevindavis007]

Not everyone has the courage to answer that question honestly.

I don't care whether people like it or not but there are things that Trump is doing that are worse than what the democrats have done.... so far. The next democrat president's bad behavior will be justified by claims that "Trump did it" and the ones justifying it now will be the ones screaming the loudest.

 

[beandog]

I wonder what the reaction be if Hillary had done this

Let me know when you have proof that Trump actually did this.  Otherwise it's total BS.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Let me know when you have proof that Trump actually did this.  Otherwise it's total BS.

I have to say I'm skeptical of this story. I would need to know exactly what Trump said.

The media isn't any more to be trusted than Trump is.

[ABX]

   As far as I'm concerned they're both Liars so it's a wash here as to who to believe.

That's what is frustrating on this. Everyone is jumping on their team's side and I'm over here yelling that they are all lying to you.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

That's what is frustrating on this. Everyone is jumping on their team's side and I'm over here yelling that they are all lying to you.

I like that old Carl Sagan quote: "extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof".

[Cripplecreek]

That's what is frustrating on this. Everyone is jumping on their team's side and I'm over here yelling that they are all lying to you.

Trump is the one with a documented history of demanding loyalty or else.

[Night Hides Not]

That's what is frustrating on this. Everyone is jumping on their team's side and I'm over here yelling that they are all lying to you.

Try as I might, I cannot find pledging "loyalty to the President" in any oath of office I've ever taken, be it as an officer in the military, or federal civilian employee.

“I, ———-, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”

I'm definitely on the outside looking in. The only "team" I can think of that I'm a member of is outside the "Trump Circle" on TBR.

How Trumpsters can justify this is beyond me.

[driftdiver]

Trump is the one with a documented history of demanding loyalty or else.

Yes Trump is the only businessman who ever existed who demanded loyalty.    /s

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Yes Trump is the only businessman who ever existed who demanded loyalty.    /s

In business it's fine. As President, it's disturbing, and should be.